University College London

Bramble Energy

Bramble Energy produces bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, leveraging manufacturing techniques typically seen in the printed circuit board industry. IDTechEx spoke with Dr Carsten Pohlmann (Business Development Director)

Intrinisic Semiconductor Technologies

Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies is a UK-based startup focussed on an innovative memory solution, ReRAM, targeted at edge AI compute, embedded systems applications, and CMOS nodes below 28nm. IDTechEx Technology Analyst, James Falkiner, recently sat down for an online discussion with CEO Mark Dickinson, discussing the fundamental issues with existing solutions, ReRAM technology, and the future of Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies.

Human Brain Cells in a Dish Learn to Play Pong

A Melbourne-led team has for the first time shown that 800,000 brain cells living in a dish can perform goal-directed tasks - in this case the simple tennis-like computer game, Pong. Now they are going to find out what happens when their DishBrain is affected by medicines and alcohol.

Seaweed-Based Battery Powers Confidence in Sustainable Energy Storage

A research team uses nanomaterials made from seaweed to create a strong battery separator, paving the way for greener and more efficient energy storage.

Disorder-Engineered Inorganic Crystals Set Record for Ultrathin Solar

Displayed over roof tops and in solar farms, silicon-based solar cells are, so far, one of the most efficient systems in generating electricity from sunlight, but their fabrication can be expensive and energy demanding, aside from being heavy and bulky. The alternative solution of lower-cost thin film solar cells also brings the caveat of being mainly composed of toxic elements such as lead or cadmium, or containing scarce elements such as indium or tellurium.

3D Printed Tags Classify and Store Data on Physical Objects

In place of the standard barcodes affixed to products, which may be removed or detached or become otherwise unreadable over time, these tags are unobtrusive (due to the fact that they are invisible) and far more durable, given that they're embedded within the interior of objects fabricated on standard 3D printers

Adsentec

Specialist gas sensor consulting.

Phosphorene Nanoribbons Live up to Hype in First Demonstration

Researchers have incorporated phosphorene nanoribbons into new types of solar cells, dramatically improving their efficiency. Phosphorene nanoribbons are ribbon-like strands of the 2D material phosphorous, which, similar to graphene, are made of single-atom-thick layers of atoms. PNRs were first produced in 2019, and hundreds of theoretical studies have predicted how their properties could enhance all kinds of devices, including batteries, biomedical sensors, and quantum computers.

3D Printing of Prosthetic Eyes

Not only is a 3D-printed prosthetic eye produced in a fraction of the time taken by the conventional process, but the resulting prosthesis also looks more realistic. This is made possible by the algorithms of Cuttlefish:Eye, a software solution from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD.

First Supply of Consistent, Scalable, Human Muscle Cells for Research

Cell coding company bit.bio has launched a new product, ioSkeletal Myocytes. It's the first product of its kind that provides physiologically relevant human skeletal muscle cells that are reliable, reproducible and consistent at scale. Access to ioSkeletal Myocytes will supercharge research and drug discovery for musculoskeletal and metabolic conditions.

New Generation of Supercapacitors to Electrify Green Transportation

Scientists have created a new generation of low-cost, high-energy supercapacitors to power electric vehicles. Researchers have produced a cheaper, more sustainable and energy-dense electrode material for supercapacitors which could pave the way for wider market penetration of this high-power, quick charging electric vehicle technology.

Light-Emitting Tattoo Engineered for the First Time

Scientists have created a temporary tattoo with light-emitting technology used in TV and smartphone screens, paving the way for a new type of "smart tattoo" with a range of potential uses.